Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-14
STARTLING PROPHECIES.
The Inter- State Commerce Act Criti-
caIIy Analysed and Its E.
fCCtS Predicted.
Serious Consequences Likely to At
tenGthe Disruption Of Established
Trade Conditions.
The Influence of the Act Declared to Be
Specially Detrimental to the West
ern Farmer.


NEW YORK, April Ga gentleman well
known throughout the country for his
inclination TO patient ard exhaustive re.
search and familiarity with socio-
economic questions was induced to give
his opinion on the operation and conse-
Quences OF the interstate commerce act
for the benefit Of the readers Of the
Inter Ocean. On account Of the promi-
nent position he holds, he very naturally
desires that his name shall not be men
toned in connection with the matter.
The following statement represents his
views:
| have for many years given special at
tentiOn TO matters within the scope of the
interstate commerce act and am IN hearty
accord with its professed purposes. was
among the first to point out the evils OF
preferential rates based on the amount OF
traffic or locality and the danger of the
pooling combinations. My views upon
these subjects were at that time secuted
IS extreme, but the results of the past
tifteen years have more than justified my
predictions. 1t Is the patient study of GER
tain phases of our economic relations and
careful analysis of
THE EFFECTS OF SPECIFIC
forces upon the known conditions of
trade and production that have led me to
form opinions so greatly at variance with
the generally accepted view of the imme-
date and ultimate effects of this act.
Even now l should hesitate to express
them had not so often seen the most
Wanted business sagaeity showing itself
utterly unable to estimate the effects Of
the most evident causes upon the general
prosperity.
While the bill was before Congress I
tried by every means in my power to
have the subject it embraces treated in
detail, as, tor instance, to prohibit
pooling end individual preferences
based on the amount of freight
Or other more personal considerations,
and then to give the commission supervi-
sion OF the enforcement of this, and let
them make suggestions as to the extern
sion of their powers and subsequent leg
islatIon. It seemed to me es3eCisIIy IN
desirable to begin the work OF federal su-
peTvisIOn of traffic by making so many
radical changes in the conduct Of q bust
ness which is not OplY greater than any
other, but is also the most important, from
the fact that it Intimately affects every
other, is concentrated in few hands, is
liable to less competition, and is, in fact,
the most compact, manageable, and po-
tent force of modern civiliZatiOn-trans-
pOTtatlOn by steam.
l. did not seem to me possible that
men so Ignorant of the plainest principles
connected with this Gll-important ques-
ton, as both the advocates and opponents
of the measure in Congress showed them.
selves to be, could devise, at a moments
notice, set of related provisions cal
culated to meet ell the eXigencies of
truffic, and protect the infinitely varied
interests dependent thereon from undue
disturbance. The destruction of social
or economic evil often develops new and
sometimes even more dangerous tenden-
Cies. 1t seemed to me impossible that
A SUDDEN DISRUPTION
OF so many of the established conditions
of trade should not be attended with very
serious consequences, not so much to the
transportation interests as to the general
business Of the country.
Even in the modified form the ACT
finally assumes, l was not without eppre-
hensiOn in reference to its practical
results. These have been more than con
tirmed by careful analysis of it's pro-
visions and q thorough study of its
probable effects. l think any one who
has given anything like reasonable atten-
ton to what the railroads haul, from
whom it is hauled, and between VIVA
points the Dulk Of traffic is, will not fai
to reach substantially the same con-
illusions as have forced themselves
q On my. conviction. In arriving
at these conclusions l may say that have
proceeded or the hypothesis that th5
commission will perform its duties anC
n exercise it's powers with the utmost
s8gaCity; that it viii receive from the
government and the people the tulles
, measure Of support, and that the rail
roads themselves will strictly observe
and faithfully carry out the provisions O.
the law, without taking undue or IN
reasonable advantage of the position il
which they tiRd themselves most uEeX
pectedly placed. Promising these things
the following immediate results may b;
safely predicted:
! l. Decided increase in the aggregate
amount paid for the transportation OF
freight-that Is, an increase Of the average
rate per ton per mile.
q, As this will result chiefly from en-
hancement of rates upon through freight
twill naturally reduce the profits of thu
lilpTOQuCer IOr distant market, unless
: there is a corresponding increase il
price.
3. 4 still more marked enhancement oil
? the aggregate amount received from pas
senger traffic. 1t is probable that com
mutations which are open to the public
2 such as 1000 mile tickets and season rates
e between specific points-wiu remain
2 They are certainly in the interest of the
roads and are not prohibited by the act
\ The drain of the pass and favor system
! however, is removed. 1t is estimated
! that not less than 100000 Of people
+ outside of the exempted classes
habitually
TRAVEL ON PASSES
: or at reduced rates. These are anon!
! the most migratory classes Of the popula
lation and frequently the best able to pay
2 I. No very decided change Of passenge
! rates need be expected. If anything
3 through rates will probably be somewha
increased, and local rates adjusted rathe
than enhanced.
5. Competition between trunk lines. OF
- both freight and passenger traffic, will b.